Cattle-guard.



f PATENTBD JAN. v20, 1903. C. J.' RICHARDSGN.

CATTLE GUARD.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 26, 1902.

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.No. 718,795. PATRNTRD JAN. 2o, 1,903. c. J. RICHARDSON.

GATTLR GUARD.

APPLICATION ILE .ze 19 2;

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Nrrnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

COLUMBUS JOHN RICHARDSON, OF CALDWELL, TEXAS.`

CATTLE-GUARD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 718,795, dated January 20, 1903. Application filed August 26, 1902. Serial No. 121,128. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concer-7e:

Be it known that 1, COLUMBUS JOHN RICH- ARDsON, a citizen of the United Statesresid-V adapted to be readily applied 'to a railroadtrack and capable of eectually preventing cattle from crossing from one eld or inclosure into another at a point where the division-fence is intersected by a railroad-track.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described,'illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of a cattle-guard constructed in accordance with this invention, the gates being elevated. Fig. 2 is a plan view. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional View. f

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

their outer ends'by a transverse rod 3 and retained thereon by pivoted loops or keepers 4, provided with pintle portions 5 at their inner ends and adapted to be turned horizontally beyond the rod 3 to release the platform for permitting the same to be swung upward on the rod 6 to expose the track to permit the same to be readily repaired. The

pintle portion 5 of the keeper or loop 4 pret'- erably extends through the bar 2 and is provided with a nut 7, as clearly shown in Fig. y

Vends of the bars 10 of the gate, which is fulcrumed on a pintle-rod 11, and the latter eX'- tends through the rails and forms pivots for the side sections of th-e cattle-guard. The rod 6, which supports the inner ends of` the platforms, is provided with U-shaped bends 12, extending beneath the rails, as shown in Fig. 4. When the platform is depressed, the inner ends of the bars 10 are swung downward, and the gates of the sections are elevated to prevent the passage-of an animal. The bars 10 of the central gate are connected by a transverse bar 13, and the bars 14 of the side gates are connected byvcross-pieces 15, and each of the gate-bars is provided with a pointed spur or projection 16, arranged at the upper or outer end of the bar and adapted to prick an animal should the same come in contact with the gate. The central gate or gatesection is provided with a weight 17 for returning the cattle-guard to its initial position as soon as pressure is removed from the platform; but a spring or any other suitable means may be provided for this purpose, and any suitable means may be provided for limiting the upward movement of the gate.

It will be seen that the cattle-guard is exceedingly simple and inexpensive in construction, that it possesses great strength and durability, and Vthat it is adapted to be readily applied to a railroad-track and is capable of effectually preventing animals from passing into a eld or inclosure where the fence is iutersected by a railroad-track. It will also be apparent that the platforms are adapted to be swung upward to expose the track when it is necessary to repair the same or the roadbed.

What I claim is- 1. In a cattle-guard the combination of a gate pivoted adjacent to one of its ends, a platform pivotally connected at one end with the adjacent end of the gate and adapted to be depressed to elevate the gate, a transverse IOC) rod supporting the outer end of the platform, and a pivoted keeper receiving the rod and adapted to be swung beyond the same to permit the platform to be raised for exposing the track, substantially as described.

2. In a cattle-guard, the combination of a gate pivoted between its ends, a platform provided With supporting bars pivotally connected With one end of the gate, a rod supporting the bars at the outer end ofthe platform, and the approximately U-shaped loops or keepers depending from the outer portions of the bars and receiving the rod and provided Wth pivots and adapted to be swung beyond the rod to release the platform, suhstantially as described.

3. In a cattle-guard, the combination of central and side gate sections, a transverse rod extending through the rails and pivoting the gate-sections, a transverse connecting-,rod passing through the gate-sections and provided With depending loops to extend beneath the rails, central and side platforms provided with supporting-bars pivoted at their inner ends to the connecting-rod, a transverse supporting-rod extending through and projecting beyond the rails and located near the outer ends of the supporting-bars, and depending loops or keepers carried by the supporting-bars and detachably receiving the adjacent rod, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

COLUMBUS JOHN RICHARDSON.

Witnesses:

T. L. DEARMAN, H. JONES. 

